SCP Auctions’ 2021 Fall Premier Auction finished strong on Saturday, Oct. 30. A flurry of bidders competed for the over 1,200 valuable and important cards and memorabilia lots offered in the sale, especially the Holy Grail of the hobby, a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner graded PSA Authentic, that sold for over $1.1 million.
SCP also set over two dozen new world records in the Fall Premier. A 1968 Topps Mickey Mantle example graded PSA Gem Mint 10 reset the market for that card, raking in an incredible $214,579.
Among the other new records were a 1961 Topps Billy Williams rookie graded PSA Gem Mint 10 that took home $92,086, a 1961 Topps Frank Robinson All Star graded PSA Gem Mint 10 that went for $89,934, and a 1961 Topps Stan Musial graded PSA Gem Mint 10 that brought $79,709. “The sports memorabilia market is on fire, as evidenced by the world records we set last night,” SCP President David Kohler said. “From high-end graded cards to the best of sports memorabilia, the results of our Fall Premier Auction are astonishing.”
An SGC Gem Mint 10 1980 Topps Larry Bird-Julius Erving-Magic Johnson rookie sold for $227,856, a record for an SGC example of that card. A few of the many other amazing vintage and modern cardboard results were a 1961 Topps Juan Marichal rookie that garnered $75,205, a 1949 Bowman Roy Campanella rookie in a PSA Mint 9 that sold for $66,734, and a 1997 E-X2001 Essential Credentials Now Tim Duncan graded BGS Gem Mint 9.5 that went for $30,343.
The auction also included a variety of world-class results for highly desirable pieces of sports history. Barry Bonds’ 500th home run ball led the memorabilia sales with a final price of $303,277 when all was said and done. Affirmed’s 1978 Triple Crown trophy brought a big result. Horse racing’s most prized award sold for $150,391. A baseball signed by Christy Mathewson at the first game of the 1910 World Series took home $100,100.
Game-worn memorabilia from ABA legends John Beasley and Mel Daniels brought big results as well, with bidders coming in hot near the end of the proceedings. Daniels’ ABA All-Star 1974 jersey and 1972 shorts excelled in the sale, garnering $135,966. Beasley’s gamers cleaned up as well. His 1971-74 Utah Stars uniform brought $40,954, 1968 ABA All Star uniform took home $38,084, and 1969 ABA All Star uniform sold for $21,494.
The rare original photo buyers were out in full force and brought major action to the category
during the sale. A 1920 Babe Ruth photo from his first New York Yankees appearance encapsulated PSA/DNA Type 1 led the way with a final price realized of $48,871. Other excellent photograph results were a rare 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. photo from his “I Have A Dream” speech that sold for $36,404, a 1973 Bruce Lee “Enter the Dragon” that brought $19,608, and a historic 1984 Michael Jordan ‘Bulls Sign Jordan’ shot that went for $18,368.
Complete results from SCP Auctions’ $5.6-million-dollar Fall Premier can be found here.
The Auction Highlights
- 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner – PSA AUTHENTIC (RESTORED) – $1,102,806
- Ball Hit by Barry Bonds for Career Home Run #500 on 4/17/2001 – $303,277
- 1980 Topps Larry Bird/Julius Erving/Magic Johnson Scoring Leaders Rookie – SGC GEM MINT 10 – $227,856 (NEW WORLD RECORD FOR AN SGC EXAMPLE)
- 1968 Topps #280 Mickey Mantle – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $214,579 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- Affirmed’s 1978 Triple Crown Trophy Presented to HOF Trainer Laz Barrera & Signed by Jockey Steve Cauthen – PSA/DNA LOA – $150,391
- Mel Daniels’ ABA All-Star Uniforms – 1974 Jersey #34 & 1972 Shorts – $135,966
- 1910 Christy Mathewson Single-Signed Baseball – Signed at First Game of World Series – PSA/DNA LOA – $100,100
- 1961 Topps #141 Billy Williams Rookie – PSA GEM MINT 10 – DMITRI YOUNG COLLECTION – $92,086 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- 1961 Topps #581 Frank Robinson All Star – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $89,934 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- 1961 Topps #290 Stan Musial – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $79,709 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- 1961 Topps #417 Juan Marichal Rookie – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $75,205 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- Roger Peckinpaugh Game Worn 1918 New York Yankees Road Uniform with WWI Memorial Armband – MEARS A7.5 – $75,205
- 1961 Topps #578 Mickey Mantle All Star – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $73,409 (NEW WORLD REXORD)
- 1949 Bowman #84 Roy Campanella Rookie – PSA MINT 9 – $66,734 (NEW WORLD RECORD FOR THIS GRADE)
- 1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie – PSA VG+ 3.5 – $55,068 (NEW WORLD RECORD FOR THIS GRADE)
- 1998 Mark McGwire Game Used Signed & Inscribed Adirondack Bat from His Record 70-HR Season – PSA/DNA GU 10/BECKETT LOA/JAVY LOPEZ LOA – $49,555 (NEW WORLD RECORD FOR MCGWIRE BAT)
- 1920 Babe Ruth ‘1st New York Yankees Appearance’ – Underwood & Underwood – 7″ X 9 1/2″ PSA/DNA TYPE I PHOTOGRAPH – $48,871
- 1972 Topps #595 Nolan Ryan – PSA GEM MINT 10 – $42,955 (NEW WORLD RECORD)
- C. 1971-74 John Beasley Utah Stars Game Worn White Uniform with Stirrups – BEASLEY LOA – $40,954
- 1970 Pele Brazil Match Worn & Signed Shirt from Brazil VS. Austria April 29, 1970 – MEARS A10/JSA LOA/EX-BRAZIL PLAYER PROVENANCE – $39,049
